Norwich City 2, Tottenham Hotspur 1: Canaries through to Capital One Cup quarter-final

Mark Bunn is mobbed by his Norwich City team mates after saving Clint Dempsey's penalty. Picture: Paul Chesterton / Focus Images

Mark Armstrong Wednesday, October 31, 2012
10:18 PM

Norwich City fans could be forgiven for thinking the club’s recent penchant for late comebacks had gone with Paul Lambert for Aston Villa.

However, Chris Hughton showed last night how he is able to change the path of a game with inspired substitutions as City secured their place in the quarter-finals of the Capital One Cup with a dramatic late show against Spurs.

City were in truth second best for most of the evening and it was no surprise when the majestic Gareth Bale put Spurs in front with a fine right-footed strike.

However, the introductions of Alexander Tettey and Simeon Jackson proved the turning point shortly after. Tettey, who looks to be a real find by Hughton, helped pull his side level when his shot deflected home off Jan Vertonghen and four minutes from time Simeon Jackson pounced from close range to make it 2-1.

The drama still wasn’t over though as Kyle Walker tumbled too easily over Marc Tierney’s challenge. The referee had been fooled but Mark Bunn wasn’t by Clint Dempsey’s penalty, plunging to his right to preserve City’s lead and have their fans dreaming of a date at Wembley.

Michael Turner was the sole survivor from City’s 1-1 draw at Aston Villa as Chris Hughton stayed true to his work by ringing the changes. Steven Whittaker came in for his debut on the right hand side of defence and would have known he was in for a busy evening with Bale included in the Spurs starting XI.

Jonny Howson skippered the side, sitting in front of the back four alongside David Fox as Jacob Butterfield got another chance to impress in the League Cup after an injury-plagued start to his Norwich career. The former Barnsley man was charged with the task of providing the ammunition for Steve Morison up front on his own.

The former Millwall man looked like he could be in for a long evening early on as Spurs dominated possession without offering any real threat on City goalkeeper Mark Bunn. Bale had cut a peripheral figure early on but sprung to life in the 17th minute, capitalising on Marc Tierney’s poor clearing header but his curling left-footed shot from the edge of the area was well held by Bunn. The Welshman had found his appetite and when he was allowed far too much time in possession he was able to play a killer pass to Dempsey with the USA international unlucky to see his clipped finish go just over the bar.

Spurs were beginning to turn the screw and the tactical switch which saw Bale move to the right flank was threatening to bear fruit.

Tottenham looked far superior in possession with the likes of Howson and Fox forced to chase shadows in the middle of the park for long spells.

Bale still looked the player most likely to break the deadlock and had Bunn scurrying across his line when he unleashed a 25-yard fizzing shot which flew just wide.

Howson almost brought the Carrow Road faithful to life with a speculative right-footed shot after latching on to Fox’s lay-off but Lloris watched the ball sail several yards wide. The half-time whistle offered City a little respite from chasing their Tottenham counterparts but Chris Hughton’s men came out looking more purposeful at the start of the second period. • Half-time: Norwich City 0, Tottenham Hotspur 0

Andrew Surman had a great chance after exchanging passes with Morison on the edge of the box but just when he could see the whites of Lloris’ eyes, Caulker threw himself in the way to block.

Morison had a decent chance after nice interplay with Butterfield but the goal that Bale had threatened all evening came in the 66th minute. The winger moved in off the left flank and ghosted past Fox before producing an excellent right-footed finish from the edge of the box.

Hughton immediately introduced Jackson and Tettey and it seemed to have a galvanising effect on the Canaries. Howson brought a good save out of Lloris with a right-footed shot but seven minutes from time Norwich were level.

The dynamic Tettey pounced on a poor clearance and his left foot volley which was heading wide took a deflection off Vertonghen and found the bottom corner.

Two minutes later and Norwich were in front as substitute Holt met Snodgrass’ free-kick and Lloris could only parry into the path of Jackson, who hammered home.

Spurs immediately went up the other end and won a soft penalty when Walker went down very easily under Tierney’s challenge.

Dempsey stepped up and saw his well struck penalty brilliantly saved by Bunn.

• City: Bunn, Whittaker, Turner, R Bennett, Tierney, Howson (c), Fox (Tettey, 69), Surman (Holt, 82), Snodgrass, Butterfield (Jackson, 69), Morison. Subs not used: Rudd, E Bennett, Garrido, Barnett.

• Spurs: Lloris, Naughton, Dawson (c), Walker (Defoe, 90), Caulker, Bale, Sigurdsson, Falque, Livermore (Huddlestone, 45), Carroll (Vertonghen, 79), Dempsey. Subs not used: Cudicini, Lennon, Townsend, Smith

• Goals: City: Vertonghen (og, 83), Jackson (86). Spurs: Bale (66) • Bookings: City; Bunn (89). Spurs: Bale (38)

• Ref: Jon Moss (West Yorks)

• Attendance: 16,465

16 comments

Not a great performance on the whole, but well done for getting the win. I was glad to see Whittaker and R Bennett get a run out and I have to say that Tettey is starting to look a really good signing. I'm not sure Butterfield played that well, but he has plenty of time on his side and we need to be patient with him. I am very happy that we have the Villa in the next round as it will add that extra bit of spice to the game. OTBC

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Preston Canary

Thursday, November 1, 2012
Makes McGnarley enen righter!

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Mad Brewer

Thursday, November 1, 2012
Anyway, I meant 26,829! All this ethering does my brain cell in. Ignore!

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Mad Brewer

Thursday, November 1, 2012
Too much ethering, not enough action. Apologies to Mr. E.A. Presley. :-(

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Mad Brewer

Thursday, November 1, 2012
Too much ethering, not enough action. Apologies to Mr. E.A. Presley. :-(

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Mad Brewer

Thursday, November 1, 2012
waclor has a good point. Poor old Moro had a thankless task and it was expecting a lot of Cushy Butterfield to come straight in and wave a magic wand. The substitutions were-dare I say it- Lambo-like. 3 strikers on at the same time! And it worked. Would Hoots do that in a league match? Only time will tell. Let`s enjoy the win. Too much analysis kills love as well as other things.

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Mad Brewer

Thursday, November 1, 2012
Ref sums. 16,465 @ £30 = £493,950. 27,829 @ £20 = £556,580. Say an extra £62,630. But would we have got a full-house mid-week? Break even point is 24,697.5 fans. Sorry for multiple approximations, concession prices etc. Too complicated!. Looks like McGnarley did his sums right in terms of hard cash. Not allowing for lost revenue from Carrow "Value" Pies, teas and programmes, offset, perhaps, by additional staffing cost implications. Either way it doesn`t make much difference to the transfer kitty. Good Will? That would be an ecumenical matter...... Could`ve priced tickets @ £25? Price elasticity of demand is a hindsight business.

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Mad Brewer

Thursday, November 1, 2012
"Second best for most of the evening" "Change the path of the game with inspired substitutions". Of course another point of view could be that the original timid team selection of only one striker was hopeless and the substitutions were only made as this was a knock out competition. Had this been a premier league match, we may be regretting another three dropped points after a poor display and a one nil defeat. Anyway well done lads and let's hope Hoots remembers what two forwards can achieve for Norwich.

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waclor

Thursday, November 1, 2012
This has a portentous quality, Spurs then Villa. Our two nemeses in those `70s League Cup Finals. Bradford in the Final. Bradford - the new Leeds.

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Mad Brewer

Thursday, November 1, 2012
Ethered! Why?? Any guesses on attendance for the upcoming QF vs Villa?

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Mad Brewer

Thursday, November 1, 2012
Yes, Cinammon is a good poacher all right. Didn`t Holty do well to out-muscle the Spurs defence to get that assisting header across.Tettey is a real find-perhaps we can affjord a few more Norwegians come the January window, if they`re not all glacier-bound by then. Good to see the "fight to the death" spirit well in evidence. Shows the boys have it in them whoever the manager is. CH is showing signs of being more assertive, hopefully the green shoots of Hoots` future approach. Still very courteous in an old-fashioned way. Somebody once said he speaks like that dapper little character out of "The Young Ones". Forgotten the character`s name. But, yes, he does sound just like! I bet there`ll be more than 16,465 present for the Villa game!

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Mad Brewer

Thursday, November 1, 2012
It is great that the whole squad are getting involved now and that Jacko scored. He is very sharp in front of goal.

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Swiss Canary

Thursday, November 1, 2012
Well done lads, a great performance. Unfortunately I was one of the many that refused to pay the £30, refelcted in the realtively low attendance. Will be interesting to see the pricing for the quarter final although probably more justification for a high price. Roll on Stoke!

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Chilly62

Thursday, November 1, 2012
I think it will be played December 11th or 12th coyy

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GrumpyMike

Thursday, November 1, 2012
well, I got a ticket last minute as mate couldn't go. As been said it was a very close match, few quality chances. And villa in the next round, had to be really. Be good to see if my boys play it any differently, we like this cup, do quite well in it. Was a long trip last night to see swindon, anyone know when the game will be?

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MonkeyNuts

Wednesday, October 31, 2012
Typical cup tie, got more exciting as it progressed. Supurb result, well done NCFC!

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bogbog

Wednesday, October 31, 2012